Epica - The Divine Conspiracy (2007)

Epica new albums "The Divine Conspiracy" 2007

The Divine Conspiracy will be Epica’s first full length concept album. This concept deals with the theory that, as a test, God created all kinds of different religions and released those upon humanity to see if they would be able to find the true nature of them, realizing that in all religions it is actually the same. But there’s more to it, it also concludes the “Embrace That Smothers” concept that could already be found on The Phantom Agony.
Track list for "The Divine Conspiracy"

1. Indigo ~ prologue
2. The Obsessive Devotion
3. Menace of Vanity
4. Chasing the Dragon
5. Never Enough
6. La‘petach Chatat Rovetz ~ the Final Embrace
7. Death of a Dream ~ the Embrace that Smothers part VII
8. Living a Lie ~ the Embrace that Smothers part VIII
9. Fools of Damnation ~ the Embrace that Smothers part IX
10. Beyond Belief
11. Safeguard to Paradise
12. Sancta Terra
13. The Divine Conspiracy

Total running time: 75:36

For more info visit : Epica

Manowar - King Of Metal

Sastra Gagah Manowar

”Grandfather, tell me a story!”
”Alright, go and get your storybook.”
”No, no, not one of those, a real story!”
”A real story?”
” Yes, tell me about when you were a
boy.”
” Well, then I shall have to take you back
with me, a long way in time...”

Cerita pun meluncur dari mulut sang kakek. Sebuah epik dari Abad Pertengahan yang mengulas empat dewa perang. Saat muda sang kakek berjalan di tengah hutan. Terdengar suara gemuruh dari empat penjuru mata angin. Dia lalu berlari ke bukit untuk memuaskan rasa penasarannya.

Ketika asap dan angin berhenti, dia melihat empat laki-laki di empat arah mata angin yang berbeda. Mereka duduk di atas punggung kuda dengan memegang senjata perang masing-masing.

Cerita bertutur itu terdapat dalam album grup metal Manowar bertitel King Of Metal. Menjadi drama audio berdurasi 4.20 menit berjudul Warrior Prayer, dengan pengisi suara Arthur Pendragon Whilshire (kakek) dan Grant William (cucu). Dialog kakek dan cucu, serta dongeng itu sendiri, tertulis lengkap seperti syair di sampul album.

Manowar dikenal sebagai grup epik metal yang berdiri sejak awal 1980-an. Sampai sekarang masih eksis, konsisten mengeluarkan album dan konser. Formasi grup ini terdiri atas empat pemuda kekar, Joey DeMaio (bas), Ross the Boss, Eric Adam, dan Donnie Hamzik. Ketika grup rock waktu itu mengusung persoalan seks dan obat bius, mereka mengajak orang berkelana ke abad pertengahan, menyelami kegagahan dan keperkasaan para ksatria masa lalu.

Menggunakan narasi sebagai pengantar lagu telah dilakukan sejak album perdana, Battle Hymns (1982). Dalam Dark Avenger, mereka meminta aktor legendaris Orson Welles bernarasi. Ini tak lepas dari polah DeMaio yang tergila-gila pada kisah kepahlawanan. Tak heran jika dia suka melahap naskah yang menceritakan petualangan pada Abad Pertengahan. Mereka pun ditahbiskan sebagai grup epik metal bersama Blind Guardian, Virgin Steele, Cirith Ungol, Omen, dan Medieval Steel.

Manowar, yang pernah dijuluki band terbising di dunia oleh Guinness Book of World Records, kerap menyinggung mitologi bumi belahan utara. Memberi sebutan Tuhan sebagai Odin dan Thor, serta kota yang indah sekali, Valhalla (sebutan surga dalam mitos). Toh grup ini tidak terjebak pada sastra mantra para penyihir di masa yang sama. Joey banyak menulis lirik dengan kalimat kiasan, yang cenderung gagah atau malah hiperbola. Seperti dalam tembang Heart of Steel, ada kalimat: I ride a comet... My trail is long to stay... Silence is a heavy stone. Kalimat yang menggambarkan kekukuhan dan keberanian hati. J.R.R. Tolkien termasuk penulis yang menancapkan pengaruhnya.

Suka dan tidak suka bisa terjadi di mana saja. Ini juga berlaku bagi Manowar. Sebagian orang memujanya, sebagian lagi mencerca. Meski begitu, Manowar tetap berjalan dengan gagah, seperti dalam syairnya. Born to walk against the wind, Born to hear my name....

Highland Glory - Forever Endeavour (2005)

Highland Glory is a Norwegian power metal band founded in 2001 by members of Phoenix Rizing.

Highland Glory is one of the first power metal bands from Norway. Jan Thore Grefstad left the band in October 2007, and was replaced by Trine Elise Johansen in January 2008.

Forever Endeavour is the second album from the Norwegian Power metal band Highland Glory.

Track listing

1. Spirit Of Salvation - 05:36
2. Break The Silence - 03:43
3. Edge Of Time - 04:44
4. Mindgame Masquerade - 04:53
5. The Sacrifice - 04:36
6. Surreality - 05:55
7. Forever Endeavour - 05:22
8. Real Life - 03:57
9. Somewhere - 04:47
10. Demon Of Damnation - 08:11

Bonus tracks

1. Wild Child (W.A.S.P. cover)
2. Love Gun (KISS cover)
3. The Trooper (Iron Maiden cover)

HammerFall - Steel Meets Steel - Ten Years of Glory (2007)

Steel Meets Steel: Ten Years of Glory, which was released on October 23rd, 2007, is the first Compilation album by the Swedish power metal group HammerFall.

The CD consists of 2 discs compiling (and remastering) some of their finest works of their 1997-2006 albums as well as 4 new songs.

Track listing

CD 1

1. "The Abyss" - (02:05)
2. "Last Man Standing" - (04:20)
3. "HammerFall v2.0.07" - (04:46) (appears as v1.07 on the iTunes digital version)
4. "The Dragon Lies Bleeding" - (04:22)
5. "Steel Meets Steel" - (04:02)
6. "Glory to the Brave" - (07:20)
7. "Heeding the Call" - (04:29)
8. "At the End of the Rainbow" - (04:04)
9. "Legacy of Kings" - (04:11)
10. "Let the Hammer Fall (Live)" - (05:51)
11. "Templars of Steel" - (05:24)
12. "Renegade" - (04:21)
13. "Always Will Be" - (04:29)
14. "Keep the Flame Burning" - (04:39)
15. "Riders of the Storm" - (04:34)

CD 2

1. "Hearts on Fire" - (03:51)
2. "Crimson Thunder" - (05:05)
3. "Hero's Return" - (05:22)
4. "Blood Bound" - (03:49)
5. "Secrets" - (06:06)
6. "Fury of the Wild" - (04:44)
7. "Never, Ever" - (04:05)
8. "Threshold" - (04:45)
9. "Natural High" - (04:15)
10. "Dark Wings, Dark Words" - (05:02)
11. "The Fire Burns Forever" - (03:22)
12. "Restless Soul" - (5:28)
13. "The Metal Age (Live)" - (04:27)
14. "Stone Cold (Live)" - (04:35)
15. "HammerFall v2.0.07" (MPEG video - Rough mix version)

Credits

* Joacim Cans – Vocals (1996 - present)
* Oscar Dronjak – Guitar, backing vocals (1993 - present)
* Stefan Elmgren – Guitar, backing vocals (1997 - present)
* Fredrik Larsson – Bass, backing vocals (1994-1997, 2007 - present)
* Anders Johansson – Drums (1999 - present)

* Johann Larsson – Bass (1993-1994)
* Niklas Sundin – Guitar (1993-1995)
* Mikael Stanne – Vocals (1993-1996)
* Jesper Strömblad – Drums (1993-1996)
* Glenn Ljungström – Guitar (1995-1997)
* Patrik Räfling – Drums (1997-1999)
* Magnus Rosén – Bass (1997-2007)